Battle of Maloyaroslavets: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 02:56, 1 August 2005

The Battle of Maloyaroslavets took place on October 24 1812, between the Russians, under Marshal Kutuzov, and part of the corps of Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon's stepson, under General Delzons with numbered about 20,000 strong. On October 19, Napoleon evacuated Moscow and marched south-west to Kaluga, de Beauharnais leading the advance. Unaware of this, and believing the force sighted at Fominskoye, 40 miles south-west of Moscow, was a foraging party, Kutuzov send General Dokhturov with 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 84 guns to surprise it. While on the road, Dokhturov learned this force was the Grand Armée and decided to hold out until reinforcements came at the road junction and town of Maloyaroslavets, on the Luzha river.

Docturov entered the town from the south and found the French spearhead had seized a bridgehead. Fierce fighting began; the town changed hands five times. General Raevki arrived with 10,000 more Russians; once more they took the town, though not the bridgehead. De Beauharnais threw in his 15th (Italian) division, under General Pino, and by evening they had again expelled the Russians. Marshal Kutusov arrived, decided against a pitched battle with the Grand Army the next day, and to retire instead to Kaluga. The French claimed a victory, but it was a Russian strategical success, for now wishing to avoid battle, Napoleon changed his line of march to the north, through Mozhaisk and Smolensk, the route of his advance that he had wished to avoid. French casualties were about 5,000, including Delzons killed, while the Russians lost 6,000.

Revision as of 02:55, 1 August 2005 edit KNewman (talk \| contribs) Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users 9,805 edits m typos ← Previous edit		Revision as of 02:56, 1 August 2005 edit undo KNewman (talk \| contribs) Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users 9,805 edits m typos Next edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The '''Battle of Maloyaroslavets''' took place on [[October 24]] [[1812]], between the [[Russia\|Russians]], under [[Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov\|Marshal Kutuzov]], and part of the corps of [[Eugène de Beauharnais]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte\|Napoleon's]] stepson, under [[General Delzons]] with numbered about 20,000 strong. On [[October 19]], Napoleon evacuated [[Moscow]] and marched south-west to [[Kaluga]], de Beauharnais leading the advance. Unaware of this, and believing the force sighted at [[Fominskoye]], 40 miles south-west of Moscow, was a foraging party, Kutuzov send [[General Dokhturov]] with 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 84 guns to surprise it. While on the road, ~~Docturov~~ learned this force was the [[Grand Army\|Grand Armée]] and decided to hold out until reinforcements came at the road junction and town of [[Maloyaroslavets]], on the [[Luzha]] river.		The '''Battle of Maloyaroslavets''' took place on [[October 24]] [[1812]], between the [[Russia\|Russians]], under [[Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov\|Marshal Kutuzov]], and part of the corps of [[Eugène de Beauharnais]], [[Napoleon Bonaparte\|Napoleon's]] stepson, under [[General Delzons]] with numbered about 20,000 strong. On [[October 19]], Napoleon evacuated [[Moscow]] and marched south-west to [[Kaluga]], de Beauharnais leading the advance. Unaware of this, and believing the force sighted at [[Fominskoye]], 40 miles south-west of Moscow, was a foraging party, Kutuzov send [[General Dokhturov]] with 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry and 84 guns to surprise it. While on the road, Dokhturov learned this force was the [[Grand Army\|Grand Armée]] and decided to hold out until reinforcements came at the road junction and town of [[Maloyaroslavets]], on the [[Luzha]] river.

	Docturov entered the town from the south and found the [[France\|French]] spearhead had seized a bridgehead. Fierce fighting began; the town changed hands five times. [[General Raevki]] arrived with 10,000 more Russians; once more they took the town, though not the bridgehead. De Beauharnais threw in his 15th ([[Italy\|Italian]]) division, under [[General Pino]], and by evening they had again expelled the Russians. Marshal Kutusov arrived, decided against a pitched battle with the Grand Army the next day, and to retire instead to Kaluga. The French claimed a victory, but it was a Russian strategical success, for now wishing to avoid battle, Napoleon changed his line of march to the north, through [[Mozhaisk]] and [[Smolensk]], the route of his advance that he had wished to avoid. French casualties were about 5,000, including Delzons killed, while the Russians lost 6,000.		Docturov entered the town from the south and found the [[France\|French]] spearhead had seized a bridgehead. Fierce fighting began; the town changed hands five times. [[General Raevki]] arrived with 10,000 more Russians; once more they took the town, though not the bridgehead. De Beauharnais threw in his 15th ([[Italy\|Italian]]) division, under [[General Pino]], and by evening they had again expelled the Russians. Marshal Kutusov arrived, decided against a pitched battle with the Grand Army the next day, and to retire instead to Kaluga. The French claimed a victory, but it was a Russian strategical success, for now wishing to avoid battle, Napoleon changed his line of march to the north, through [[Mozhaisk]] and [[Smolensk]], the route of his advance that he had wished to avoid. French casualties were about 5,000, including Delzons killed, while the Russians lost 6,000.